Amtrak Coast Starlight #14 LAX-PDX May 23-24, 2001 Photos

On Wednesday, May 23, 2001 we (myself, wife Dorie, and sons Nathan (age 4.75) and Andrew
(age 2.75)) began
our vacation to Portland, Oregon. We boarded the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner #765 in Santa
Ana, CA to connect with the Amtrak Coast Starlight #14 at Los Angeles Union Station.
We had the Family Room (first time for us) in Sleeping
Car #1430 (first sleeper next to the Pacific Parlour Car) which was Superliner II
"Tennessee" #32110 which we had on our last Coast Starlight trip to Portland, OR in
June 1998!

My railfan friend Les Higa joined us for the trip from Santa Ana to San Jose, CA.
My railfan friend Steven Reynolds
joined us at Paso Robles, CA (taking Coast Starlight
#11 from Davis to Paso Robles).

Note: All shots were taken with my new Olympus D490Z digital camera using the
lowest quality mode (SQ=640x480 with compression).
These JPEGs have not been modified. They were downloaded directly from the camera.

July 30, 2001 added 3 photos that were scanned from photographs. Noted below with "Scanned".

Click on thumbnail for full size image

Description

(32K) Amtrak Pacific Surfliner #765 (Note: New Number) approaching Santa
Ana. We were hoping for the new bi-level equipment but no such luck. Would
have been nice to at least have had a full length dome in the consist.

(42K) Amtrak Pacific Surfliner #765 rounding the tight curve at Redondo
Junction passing Redondo Tower. By some time next year Amtrak (and Metrolink)
will be using a new flyover (over the Alameda Corridor) and so this shot
won't be possible much longer.

(42K) Passing Redondo Tower for one of the last times. Hopefully this tower
will be preserved somewhere.

(50K) Andrew enjoying his trip past the Amtrak coach yard.

(62K) Dorie, Andrew, Nathan (and partially Les) at Los Angeles Union Station
waiting for our train to be brought into station. We met SuperDave on the platform. In the background is the
Amtrak Southwest Chief #3 which arrived late. We had to wait at Fullerton
Junction for #3 to depart the station.

(62K) AMTK #381 F40PH in Pacific Surfliner paint scheme was the lead
unit of our train! It was later dropped off at Oakland.

(54K) While waiting for departure of our train the
American Orient Express
pulled into the station completing its trip from Seattle.

(59K) Now THIS is a Parlor Car!

(66K) Nathan in the Pacific Parlour Car
while climbing the hills in the Santa Susana Pass. I really love this part
of the trip as you have just left the cities for some beautiful hills.

(60K) Andrew and Nathan in the Kiddie Car watching a video. Lots of toys
to play with but just like Daddy they are glued to the TV. Nathan has the
pose (mouth wide open) like I did when I was his age. Passing Simi Valley
station.

(60K) Nathan and Andrew downstairs in the Theater of the Pacific Parlour
Car which is equipped with a 35" Sony TV, Hi-Fi VCR, and Surround Sound
System.

(55K) Andrew, Dorie, and Nathan in the Dining Car playing with
their "Thomas" engines while waiting for lunch.

(59K) The BEAUTIFUL Pacific Coast right outside your window!

(58K) Nathan and Andrew trying out the small beds in the Family Room.

(64K) Nathan really loved sleeping "upstairs" and Andrew loved having his
own bed instead of a crib like at home.

(72K) Amtrak Coast Starlight #14 at San Luis Obispo (SLO).

(64K) Looking south at SLO down the long train (5 coaches).
Les Higa is taking a photo of the head-end power.

(72K) SLO is a crew change point and so the stop is a bit longer. Southbound
Coast Starlight #11 is supposed to arrive at SLO before #14 but #11 was running
late today so we met #11 at Santa Margarita.

(56K) Shot of our train (taken from the last coach) rounding the
Horseshoe Curve in Cuesta Pass just North of SLO.

(58K) Shot of our power (taken from the last coach) rounding the
Horseshoe Curve in Cuesta Pass just North of SLO.

(57K) Les Higa and Steven Reynolds eating dinner in the diner fully equipped
for railfanning; Les with his Radio Shack scanner and antenna, and Steven
with his portable GPS unit.

(0K) After the last photo I must have put the camera in my pants
pocket with the lens extracted. Later I must have squished the lens
as it now has a crack and the camera won't take a photo so this is
the end of the photos... :-(

(95K) Scanned photo of Andrew, me, and Nathan in front of the
Mt Hood Railroad caboose as we watched the excursion train depart.

(98K) Scanned photo of beautiful Multnomah Falls in Oregon. Railfans will enjoy the UPRR
tracks on the other side of the highway.